Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
CEN/@walter.vanderlee.7
A disabled young man depressed when nobody visited him for his birthday has now been flooded with birthday cards from well-wishers including messages from his local football team heroes.
The delighted birthday boy Ardy van der Lee, 29, told local media proudly that the cards were continuing to come in all the time and in the latest delivery he said: “I got 191 cards. I have never had so many in the mailbox at once. A lot of people wrote to tell me they were sorry that I couldn’t celebrate my birthday properly because of the corona crisis, but now I have had a really nice day.”
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CEN/@walter.vanderlee.7 
CEN/@walter.vanderlee.7 
CEN/@walter.vanderlee.7 
CEN/@walter.vanderlee.7 
CEN/@walter.vanderlee.7
Ardy lives in the Thomashuis in the town of Nieuwkuijk, in the Dutch province of North Brabant which is a sheltered accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities.
He was flooded with the cards after taking part in a local community initiative were people talk about what it’s like under lockdown and he spoke about being sad that nobody could visit him for his birthday. As a result people started sending cards including some who dropped them by personally on the way to local shops.
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The centre manager Berna van den Dungen said that Ardy had really enjoyed getting the cards.
He added: “The mailbox rattling all day. He also got a very big bunch of balloons and a cake that was delivered. Every time a new delivery arrived he had a big smile on his face. Because the coronavirus pandemic, he can’t go to daycare or join us on the shopping, but at least the birthday cards meant there was something to do. We were reading cards all day long.”
But the big surprise was that the young man who is a huge fan of the local Waalwijk football club which also found time to send him greetings.
Berna said: “Several players recorded a birthday message for him, and during the day we were showing the movies each time they came over. He’s really happy with that and hopes that RKC remain in the Premier league.”
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His parents also presented him with a special gift, a greenhouse, which is big enough for him to walk into and will be put up once the coronavirus lockdown is over.
His dad Walter van der Lee said: “Thank you everyone so much for the attention to make Ardy’s birthday a beautiful day.He was very happy with it!!!!! The players from RKC thanks for the video congratulations and the presents, family, colleagues, badminton, walkers, friends, friends, acquaintances . . . Thank you so much!!!!!!
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